India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
