India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match 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.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
