India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
