The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
