The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
