India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
