India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
