The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
