The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India seem vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
