India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
