India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
