The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, 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, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
