India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
