The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
