The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press