India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
