India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
