India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
