India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
