India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
