The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
