The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
