India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
