The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
