The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
