India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
