India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
