India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
