The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
