The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
