India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
