The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
