The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years 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 prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press