India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
