India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
