The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
