The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
