The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
