The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
