India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
