The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
