The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
