The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the first Test 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 South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
