India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
