The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
