The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
