The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
