India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
