The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
