The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
