India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs 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 lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
