The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
