The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners 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 anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
