The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
Maya Chen is a freelance writer and urban enthusiast with a passion for documenting city life and cultural shifts.
