India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
