The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
