The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest 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 domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
