The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
