The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
