The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
