India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
