The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
