The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
