India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
