India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
