India's unexpected 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 handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches 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 surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
