India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing 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 local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, 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.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
