India's shocking 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 their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
