The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series 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 the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
