The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
