The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India seem vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
