India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
