The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
