India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
