The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
