India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
