The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
