The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
