The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
