The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured 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 display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
