India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
