The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
