The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
