India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
