India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
