The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
