The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
