The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings 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 developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
