The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
