The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, 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 Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar 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 - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
