The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
