The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
