India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. 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 unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
