The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
