The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
