The Indian cricket team'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, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
