India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
