The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
