The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
