The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
