The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
