The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory 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 built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
