India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
