India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
