India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
