India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
