The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
