India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
