India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement 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 Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
