The Indian cricket team'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, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
