India's shocking 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 a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready 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 in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
