India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
