India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
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 present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
