The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
