The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
