The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
