The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
