The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
