India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
