India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
