The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India seem beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
