The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
