India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
