India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
