The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
