India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
