The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
