The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
