The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press