India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
