India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
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, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
