The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
