The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
