The Indian cricket team'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 gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
