India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
