The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
