The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure 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 - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
