India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
