The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
