India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
