The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
