The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
