India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
