The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
