The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
