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 their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
