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.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
