India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
