The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
