India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball 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 occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
