India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
