India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
