The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
