The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
