The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
