The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
