India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
