The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
