The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
