India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation'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 careers of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
