The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
