The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
