India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
