The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
