India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
