The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - 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 questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
