The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
