The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
