The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
