The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
