The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately 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 tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
