India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
