The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied 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 risks harming India's chances of reaching the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced 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 highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
