The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
