The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
