India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home 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 team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
