The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
