The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
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 longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
