India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
