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 gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
