India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
