The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated 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
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
