The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
