India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
