The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press