The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
