India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
