The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
