India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
