The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
