India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
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 tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
