India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
