India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
