The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century 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 all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
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 favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
