India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
