The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
