India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
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 train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
