The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, 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.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press