India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
