India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
