The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
