India's surprising 0-2 series 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 defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
