India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
