The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
