The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
