India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
