India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
