India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
