India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against 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 opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
