The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
