The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
