The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
