The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
