India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
