The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet 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 a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches 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 vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
