India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
