The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
