The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
