The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
