The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's 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 invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
