India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
