The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
