The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' 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 positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
