The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test 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 the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
