India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
