India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
