The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
