The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
