The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
