India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press