The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
