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 inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen 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 spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
