India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
