The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
