India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
