The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
