The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
