India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
