The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
