The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
