The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India seem beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
