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 defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
