The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
