The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
