The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
