The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
