The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
