India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
