India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
