India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
