The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
