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 gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
