India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
