India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
