The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
