India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
