The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
