The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
