The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
