The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
