India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
