The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
