India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
