India's shocking 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 loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
