The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
