India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
