India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
