The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating 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 altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
