The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
