The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
