The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
