The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively 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 edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
