The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
