India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
