The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
