The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
