The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
