India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, 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, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
