India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
