The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
