India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
