The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai 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 nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
