India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
