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.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on 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 performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
