India's unexpected 0-2 series loss 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, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
