India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
