The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
