India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
