India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
