India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
