The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
