The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while 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 nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
