The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
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 tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
