The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
