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.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing 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 backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
