India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded 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 was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
