India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
