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 a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
