The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
