India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
