India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of making the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
