The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
