The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years 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 prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
