India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
