The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
