The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
