India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
