The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test 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 another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
