The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph 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 momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
