The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
