The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
