India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
