The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
