India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
