India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
