India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
