The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
