India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed 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 another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
