The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
