India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
