The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
