The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar 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.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
