The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
