India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa 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. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated 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 season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the decider of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
