India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
