India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared 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's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
