India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
