India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
