The Indian cricket team's surprising 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 defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
