India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
