The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India seem beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
