The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
