The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
