The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why 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 seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
