India's unexpected 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 their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the final of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
