India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
