The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
