The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
