The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
