The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
