India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
