India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review 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 criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
