The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
