India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished 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 initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
