India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
