India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
