India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of making the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
