The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
