The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
