The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
