India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
