The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
