India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, 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 such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
