The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
