India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
