The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press