India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on 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 display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
