India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
