The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted 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. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
