The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
