India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
