The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
