India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
