India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished 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. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
