The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
