The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
