The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's 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 invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai 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 casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
