India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters 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 changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
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 looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
