The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves 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 shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, 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 domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
