The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
