India's unexpected 0-2 series loss 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 Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
