India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
