The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished 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. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
