The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
