India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and 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.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
