The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
