India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
