The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
