The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, 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 struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
