The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press