India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of making the final of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
