The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
