India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv 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.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
