The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
