The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
