The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
