The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
