The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
