The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
