The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition post the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
