India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
