The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
