The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
