India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
