India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
