The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
