India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked 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 decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
