The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
