India's surprising 0-2 series 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 a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
