India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
