India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
