The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India seem beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
