The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
