The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
