India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
