India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
