India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
