The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
