The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
