India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win 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 gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
