The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
