India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
