India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
