India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
