India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
