The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
