India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
