India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
