The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
