India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced 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 essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
