The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
