India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
