India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
