The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
