The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
