India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century 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 almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
