The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
