India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
