India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
