India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
