The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
