The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
