India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
