The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
