India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
