The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
