The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
