India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
