India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
