The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
