India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home 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 - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
