The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
