India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
