India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
