India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
