The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
