The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
