India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded 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. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, 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 aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
