India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 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 hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
