India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
