The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
