The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
