The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
