The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
