The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
