The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press