The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
