India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
