India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
