The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
