The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
