India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
