The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
