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, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
