The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was 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 showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
