The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
