The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
