India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
