India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
