India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
