The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
