The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
