The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This 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 surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
