India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
