The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
