The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
