India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
