The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
