The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces 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 seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
