The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
