India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
