The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
