India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
