India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like 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 place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
