India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
