India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball 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 whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
