The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
