India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
