India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
