India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
