The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
