India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
