The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
