India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
