India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
