The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
