The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
