The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
