India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
