India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
