The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
