India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
