India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
