India's surprising 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 inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
