India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
