The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to 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 coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
