India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
