The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
