The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
