India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded 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. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue 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 do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
