The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
