India's surprising 0-2 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 loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
